439.2 Involuntary Medical Withdrawal

P-439.2

The Dean of Student Development (or designee) may initiate involuntary medical withdrawal from the College of any student for behavior that poses a significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of such student or others. The Dean of Student Development will meet with the student, who will be given the opportunity to present information regarding the incident(s). If appropriate, the withdrawal determination will be made by the Dean of Student Development and the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs (or designee) taking into consideration the nature and severity of the potential harm, the imminence of the potential harm, the likelihood that the potential harm will occur, the duration of the risk, the ability to mitigate the risk and the impact on others in the campus community. This determination will be an individualized assessment of the ability of the student to function safely at the College, based on all documentation received. The College may require the student to undergo a medical evaluation by a licensed mental health professional of the College’s choosing and at the College’s cost. Students must sign a waiver for the mental health evaluator to provide detailed information to the SCC contracted mental health counselor and Dean of Student Development.

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If the medical evaluation and other documentation supports involuntary medical withdrawal, the student will receive notification via certified mail from the Dean of Student Development (or designees) stating the reasons for its determination. The student will also be informed of conditions that must be met for re-enrollment. Students may challenge the involuntary medical withdrawal by submitting a written appeal to the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs (or designee). The written appeal should include supporting documentation from a licensed medical or mental health professional.

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Contact with SCC While on Involuntary Medical WithdrawalSCC expects students on a medical withdrawal to refrain from participating in any activities or utilizing any facilities on the SCC campus during the duration of their medical withdrawal. In addition, a student on a medical withdrawal must respond to outreach by the Dean of Student Development if requested to do so. Failure to comply with these requirements may jeopardize or delay a student’s re-enrollment from the medical withdrawal.

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Re-Enrollment ProcessA student who has undergone involuntary medical withdrawal must engage the re-enrollment process from an involuntary medical withdrawal as stated in this policy. The College may require the student to undergo a medical evaluation by a licensed mental health professional of the College’s choosing. The student must sign a waiver allowing the mental health evaluator to provide detailed information to the SCC contracted mental health counselor and Dean of Student Development. A medical withdrawal is not necessarily considered a disciplinary action.

Students must complete all parts of the following re-enrollment procedures:

All documentation is due to the Dean of Student Development (or designee) before the student can re-enroll. If a mental health evaluation is required, it needs to occur with sufficient amount of time (generally eight to twelve weeks prior to the start of the semester) for the assessment to be completed and reports to be forwarded for consideration by SCC. If the duration of the absence has been longer than five years, the student must re-apply to the College. Additional documentation includes:

Submission of a letter to the Dean of Student Development (or designee) requesting re-enrollment. The letter should review the circumstances that led to the involuntary medical withdrawal, describe in detail any activities pursued while out of school, explain why the student now feels able to resume studies successfully and outline a plan for continued support.

Submission of a letter and pertinent medical documentation to the Dean of Student Development (or designee) from the physician or therapist with whom the student has have been working. The letter should outline the treatment given; progress made, and provide support for return to full-time or part-time study at SCC. The letter should also address the continued care plan recommended for the students return. If applicable, the student will be asked by the Dean of Student Development (or designee) to meet with an outside Mental Health Counselor, as selected by the College, for an evaluation. The evaluation will be scheduled by the Mental Health Counselor generally eight to twelve weeks prior to the start of the semester. The student must sign a waiver allowing the mental health evaluator to provide detailed information to the SCC contracted mental health counselor and Dean of Student Development.

Completion of a re-enrollment interview with the Dean of Student Development (or designee), if requested.

If re-enrollment is granted, the student is also expected to meet with the Dean of Student Development (or designee) throughout the semester, if requested.

Students on an involuntary medical withdrawal are not eligible to return from their leave for a summer session without permission of the Dean of Student Development (or designee).

All financial obligations to the College must be cleared before re-enrollment. Contact Financial Services to discuss payment options for any outstanding debt to SCC and contact Enrollment Services to discuss financial aid options.

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Re-Enrollment Confirmation ProcessApproval for re-enrollment from an involuntary medical withdrawal will be communicated in a certified letter from the Dean of Student Development (or designee) to the student’s home address. It is the student’s responsibility to keep the college updated with current contact information. Approval notification will outline any ongoing conditions that must be met for continued re-enrollment as well as any necessary directives.

Students are expected to submit a letter to the Dean of Student Development agreeing to comply with conditions set forth and directly contact the Dean of Student Development to confirm the student's letter has been received. Failure to complete this process may nullify the approval for re-enrollment.